Photo Information U.S. Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Raid Force conduct a raid during realistic urban training aboard Camp San Luis Obispo, Calif., Dec. 5, 2014. RUT prepares the Marines of the 15th MEU for their upcoming deployment, enhancing their combat skills in environments similar to those they may find in future missions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Anna Albrecht/Released) Photo by Cpl. Anna Albrecht Download Details Share 15th MEU Marines begin realistic urban training 8 Dec 2014 | Staff Sgt. Miguel Carrasco The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website PRINT SHARE FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. -- U.S. Marines and sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit began realistic urban training here Dec. 5. The purpose of RUT is to provide the MEU the opportunity to conduct training in unfamiliar environments in preparation for their upcoming deployment. “Realistic urban training allows the Marines and sailors of the 15th MEU to exercise vital skills to better prepare them for what they may face while forward deployed,” said Col. Vance L. Cryer, the 15th MEU’s commanding officer. The mission of the MEU is to provide a rapid-response force capable of conducting conventional amphibious and selected maritime operations from the sea, surface or air. “Bringing together the entire Marine Air-Ground Task Force in an exercise such as this one allows us quality, realistic training that is essential for unit readiness,” Cryer said. The MEU is composed of a command element and three major subordinate elements. They are Battalion Landing Team 3/1, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 (Reinforced) and Combat Logistics Battalion 15, the ground, aviation and logistics elements respectively. The training will continue through Dec. 16 with a series of scenarios in several locations throughout California in preparation for deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East next spring. Tags 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit , 15th MEU , 1st Marine Division , 1st Marine Regiment , 1st Marines , 1st Recon Bn. , 1st Recon Bn. Recon , 1st Reconnaissance Battalion , 3rd Battalion , air , Amphibious , Arizona , Battalion Landing Team 3/1 , BLT 3/1 , Calif. , California , Camp Pendleton , Camp San Luis Obispo , CLB-15 , Combat Logistics Battalion 15 , cpl. Anna albrecht , deployment , environment , exercise , Force Reconnaissance Detachment , Fort Hunter Liggett , gortex , LA , land , LAPD , Leadership , Los Angeles , M-16 , M-4 , MAGTF , Marine Air-Ground Task Force , Marine Corps , Marine Expeditionary Unit , Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 , Marines , maritime , maritime operations , Maritime Raid Force , mentors , MEU , Middle East , military , MRF , navy , nevada , Qualification , Realistic urban training , reconnaissance , Rifle Qual , rifle range , RUT , sailor , sailors , San Luis Obispo , Sea , Security Element , service members , Shooting , SLO , SWAT , Training , United States Marine Corps , urban , USMC , Marine